obama owed them a better debate. >> he looked like he was tired, drained. >> i think he didn't have the practice. >> you more worried obama might lose now? >> well, no, not really. >> reporter: obama strategists hint the boss learned a lesson. >> he'll review it and if he wants to make some changes in the next debate, he'll do so. >> reporter: romney strategists claim all that changed about their guy was the audience. >> i think people saw him for the first time, a lot of people, not in a 30-second attack ad or 12-second snippet on the news. but got to hear him directly. >> reporter: romney's hoping the debate strengthens his poll numbers in battleground states. tomorrow there's a new factor, a jobs report expected to help president obama, by showing fewer layoffs. live from denver, steve handelsman, news4. >>> more now on the continuing coverage of that first presidential debate. nbc news senior political editor mark murray joins us now with new analysis of last night's big debate. >> mark, instant polling and survey say they thought romney won the debate, and the president didn't help